Retrieval device, retrieval method, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10423825-B2
Application number	US-201615188846-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2016
Priority date	Jul 3, 2015
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

A retrieval device includes: a printer configured to print a document onto paper together with an identifier image, the identifier image representing an identifier of the document; a storage configured to correlate electronic data for the document with the identifier to store the electronic data; an image taking device configured to photograph the identifier image in the paper; an input device configured to receive an input of a keyword; a search portion configured to search for the keyword in the document by using the electronic data corresponding to the identifier represented in the identifier image photographed; and a display device configured to display a result of the search made by the search portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retrieval system comprising:
a printer;
at least one processor which is configured to (i) receive an instruction for printing a document, (ii) obtain, in response to receipt of the instruction, a searchable document file of the document to be printed, (iii) generate, in response to receipt of the instruction, an identifier image representing an identifier of the document, and (iv) control, in response to receipt of the instruction, the printer to print the document onto paper together with the identifier image;
a storage configured to correlate electronic data of the searchable document file with the identifier and to store the electronic data of the searchable document file in correlation with the identifier;
an image taking device configured to photograph the identifier image printed on the paper;
an input device configured to receive an input of a keyword;
wherein the at least one processor is configured to retrieve, when the image taking device photographs the identifier image, the electronic data of the searchable document file which is correlated with the identifier represented by the photographed identifier image, and to search for the input keyword in the document by using the retrieved electronic data of the searchable document file;
wherein the retrieval system further comprises a display device configured to display a result of the search,
wherein the document has a plurality of pages, and the printer prints any of the pages, and
wherein the at least one processor generates, as the identifier image, an image representing the identifier of the document and further representing page identifiers of all of the pages of the document which are to be printed in accordance with the received instruction for printing the document.

2. The retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor searches for the keyword in all of the pages of the document.

3. The retrieval system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one processor is further configured to extract reference information from said any of the pages, the reference information corresponding to the keyword and a part immediately before or immediately after the keyword, or, alternatively, the reference information corresponding to an entirety of said any of the pages;
wherein:
the printer prints said any of the pages together with the identifier image,
when the keyword is found in a page, of the pages, corresponding to a page identifier represented in the identifier image photographed, the at least one processor extracts, as the reference information, the keyword and the part immediately before or immediately after the keyword,
when the keyword is found in a page other than a page corresponding to a page identifier represented in the identifier image photographed, the at least one processor extracts an entirety of the page as the reference information, and
the display device further displays the reference information.

4. The retrieval system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, when the keyword is found in a printed page of the pages, extract, as reference information, information on the keyword and a part immediately before or immediately after the keyword, and configured to, when the keyword is found in a non-printed page of the pages, extract an entirety of the non-printed page as the reference information; and
wherein the display device further displays the reference information.

5. The retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the printer prints some of the pages, and
the at least one processor searches for the keyword in said some of the pages.

6. The retrieval system according to claim 2 , wherein the printer prints a page selected by a user among the pages.

7. The retrieval system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one processor is further configured to read out all of the pages;
the printer prints, for a copy job, a page selected by a user from among the read-out pages; and
the storage stores, as the electronic data, data on the read-out pages or data obtained by applying processing to the data on the read-out pages.

8. The retrieval system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one processor is further configured to extract reference information from said any of the pages, the reference information corresponding to the keyword and a part immediately before or immediately after the keyword, or, alternatively, the reference information corresponding to an entirety of said any of the pages;
the printer prints a page selected by a user from among the pages together with the identifier image,
when the keyword is found in a page, of the pages, corresponding to a page identifier represented in the identifier image photographed, the at least one processor extracts, as the reference information, the keyword and the part immediately before or immediately after the keyword,
when the keyword is found in a page other than a page corresponding to a page identifier represented in the identifier image photographed, the at least one processor extracts an entirety of the page as the reference information, and
the display device further displays the reference information.

9. The retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the printer is provided in an image forming apparatus,
the storage is provided in a server configured to perform communication with the image forming apparatus,
the at least one processor comprises a processor which is provided in the server and which is configured to perform at least said retrieving of the electronic data of the searchable document file and said searching for the input keyword in the document by using the retrieved electronic data of the searchable document file,

and
the image taking device, the input device, and the display device are provided in a terminal configured to perform communication with the server.

10. A retrieval method for a retrieval system comprising a printer, a storage, an image taking device, an input device, a display device, and at least one processor, the method comprising:
with the at least one processor:
receiving, with the at least one processor, an instruction for printing a document,
obtaining, in response to receipt of the instruction, a searchable document file of the document to be printed,
generating, in response to receipt of the instruction, an identifier image representing an identifier of the document, and
controlling, in response to receipt of the instruction, the printer to print the document onto paper together with the identifier image;

correlating electronic data of the searchable document file with the identifier and storing the electronic data of the searchable document file in correlation with the identifier into the storage;
photographing, with the image taking device, the identifier image printed on the paper;
receiving, via the input device, an input of a keyword;
with the at least one processor:
retrieving, when the identifier image is photographed, the electronic data of the searchable document file which is correlated with the identifier represented by the photographed identifier image, and searching for the input keyword in the document by using the retrieved electronic data of the searchable document file; and

displaying, with the display device, a result of the search,
wherein the document has a plurality of pages, and the printer prints any of the pages, and
wherein the method further comprises, with the at least one processor, generating, as the identifier image, an image representing the identifier of the document and further representing page identifiers of all of the pages of the docume

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Ozawa Kaitaku

Classifications

• G06F16/9554 Primary

  by using bar codes · CPC title

• G06V30/40

  Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition · CPC title

• H04N1/2191

  for simultaneous, independent access by a plurality of different users · CPC title

• G06F16/93

  Document management systems · CPC title

• H04N1/00244

  with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324) · CPC title